Al-Harūj al-Aswad

Al-Harūj al-Aswad, hilly basaltic plateau of central Libya. A startlingly black expanse with an area of some 15,500 square miles (40,150 square km), it rises out of the surrounding sand to about 2,600 feet (800 metres) and is crowned by a series of volcanoes, the Qārat al-Sabʿah, with elevations reaching 3,900 feet (1,200 metres). Ancient lava streams run in all directions between sandy basins; grasses, bushes, and acacia groves appear after the rains. The western edge breaks off sharply, while in the east, wadis (seasonal rivers) extend into the surrounding desert. The south is demarcated by the ʿUnqūd al-Yāsirāt, two lines of 40 volcanoes; an outcrop to the southeast contains the oasis of Wāw al-Nāmūs, which lies in the bottom of a crater 330 feet deep and 2 to 2 1/2 miles (3 to 4 km) in diameter. Three swampy lakes support reeds, palms, water hens, reptiles, and migrating birds. Mosquitoes, however, make Wāw al-Nāmūs uncomfortable for people, and it is visited only periodically by passing caravans in search of water.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Laura Etheredge, Associate Editor.